Apparatus for handling coal, &amp;c.



v C. A. PRATT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING. COAL, &c.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4.1914.

192329082. Patented July 3, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

252049322014 Char/es 4 Pfaff C. A. PRATT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COAL, `5w.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1914. 1,232,082. Patented July 3,1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3A f ,w m y n C. A. PRATT.

APPARATUS Fori HANDLING COAL, am.

APPLICATION FILED APRM. I9I4. 1,282,02. Patented ,my 3, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ggf-57365555. .wf l 2X. @dan C. A. PRATT.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COAL, GLC. APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, IQII.

1,232,082. Patented July 3, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

u j y L Q2/ @h5/52%@ @@fxz. j 4' UGM/WM Paas nigga CHARLES A. PRATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-'ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS ron HANDLIIIG COAL, .&.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July s, wir.

Application led Apri14, 1914. Serial N o. 829,435.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of C ook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for HandlingCoal,"&c.,' of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling coal, stone, sand, etc., and has for its object to provide a new and improved apparatus of this description.

In mining coal for example, itis customary to havea main entry or passageway, with tracks running there-along and rooms leading off therefrom with connecting tracks leading into the rooms. The coal is mined at the endsl of the rooms and loaded into cars on the tracks in the rooms, said cars then being pulled out to the main track and under the point where they are raised to the surface. The rooms are being continually lengthened as the coal is mined away,l requiring the tracks therein to be extended from time to time. Since the coal must be loaded into the car at the inner end of the track, it will be seen that only one car at a time can be moved on tol this track; that otherwise the loaded `car cannot be pulled out. v

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an apparatus or system by means of which a number of cars can be placed on the track in each room and all the cars easily and quickly loaded and then removed from the room.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through. a room showing a series of cars and the coal handling apparatus with a power shovel in line with the cars;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a room showing a series of cars with the power shovel at one side thereof;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the power shovel illustrated in Fig. 2, 4when in its discharge position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the elevating power truck used in connection with the loading apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the ypower truck shown in Fig. 4;

l Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the dumping car platform of the elevating power truck, in its lowered position;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the dumping truck over one of the cars; r

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view takenon line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

,Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown a room in a mine provided with a track 1, containing a series of cars 2. Connected with these cars is an elevating power truck 3 and located'ahead of this power truck is-a power shovel 4, This power shovel may be of" any suitable form, su'chfor example as that illustrated in my application No. 772,521, filed June 9, 1913. I have only yillustrated it diagrammatically. This power shovel is provided with a scoop 5 carried by a beam 6 which is moved back and forth by' a gear 7. The beam is mounted upon the turn table 8. The beam and turn table are manipulated by a suitable motor 7a so that the material may be forced into the scoop and then the scoop moved so as'to discharge the material into the car. When lthe power shovel is ahead of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, the turn table is rotated 180 degrees tor permit the shovel to discharge. When the power shovel is at one side of the cars as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the turn table is rotated 90 degrees to permit the shovel to 'discharge A suitable track is provided eX- tendin-g along the top ofthe cars 2 and also along the top of the elevating power truck 3 and upon this track runs a dumping car 11. The track may be constructed in any desiredmanner and as herein shown, consists of rods or tubes 12 fastened to each car and to the elevating power truck. When the cars are brought togetherthe ends of thesections of the tubes or pipes abut, so

as to form a substantially continuous track. If desired the parts 12 at one end of the car may be provided with projections 13, which fit into grooves 13a (see Fig. 7) at the under sides of the parts 12 of the adjacent car. The parts 12 may be removably attached to the cars by means of terminal pieces 14 and 'pins or other suitable fasten ing devices 15 (see Fig. 7). The dumping car 11 is filled with coal or other material in los any desired manner, as by means of the' power shovel and is then run back along the track to the different cars of the train and dumped and is then returned to its initial position. Any suitable means for this purpose may be used. As herein shown, a cable 16 (see Figs. 1 and 2) has its ends fastened to opposite ends of the dumping car, said cable passing around a suitable drum 17 on the elevating power truck. The last car of the train is provided with guide pulleys 18 and 19, one at the top-and one at the bottom thereof for properly guiding theY cable. These pulleys are preferably removably fastened to the last carso that they can be removed and placed on any 4of the oars, so that a train of cars of any desired length can be utilized. The elevating power truck is provided with a guide pulley 191l for the cable 16. The dumping car 11 may be of any suitable form. In Fig. 7, I have illustratedone form where the body portion 20 may be lowered by means of the cable 21, the drum 22 and the ratchet wheel 23 pawl 24 and controlling handle 25 so as to dump the material into the car. The dumping car while being filled is supported upon the movable support or platform 26 movably mounted upon the elevating truck. ln view of the fact that the roofs of mines are low and also to prevent the necessity of moving which illustrate the elevating power truckL it will be seen that the movable platform 26 is connected with the frame of the truck by the two sets of pivoted arms 27 and 28 which are pivoted together at one end, their other ends being pivoted to the frame and movable platform (see Fig. 8). Associated with each set of these arms is a guide 29 provided with a slot 30 through which passes a pin 31 attached to the arms 27 and 28. rl`he guide 28 is stationary and the pin and slot permits the arms 27 and 28 to be doubled up as the platform is lowered. The platform 26 is also provided with the supports 32 and 33. Connected with the supports 33 are the arms 34 which in turn are movably connected to the arms 35 movably connected to the parts 36 on the elevating power truck. Movably connected with the supports 32 are the arms 37 which are movably connected to the arms 38,v said latter arms being movablyconnected to the parts 39 attached to the elevating power truck. Connected with the arms 34 and 35 and 37 and shown in Fig. 5.

Y38 on opposite sides of the truck are the pulcables 44 being connected to the holding pieces 42. The winding up of these cables moves arms 34 and 35, and 37 and 38 into alinement to lift the platform 2G and the dumping car 11 to their. up position as The shaft 47 to .which the drums 43 are connected is provided with a suitable brake 48 controlled by the brake wheel 49 arranged to normally hold the platform and dumping car in their up position. The platform and car may be lowered by loosening the brake, their weight causing them to move downwardly, the arms 27 and 28 and 34 and 35 and 37 and 38 folding up, as shown in Fig. 6, which figure illustrates the dumping car and platform in their lowered position. The* shaft 47 is actuated by the motor 50, said motor is connected with the shaft 51 which in turn is connected with the shaft 52 carrying the gear 53 which meshes with the gear 54 on the shaft 47. A movable clutch member 55' is slidably mounted on the shaft and is controlled by a handle 56 (see Fig. 9). Jl/Then the handle 56 is moved to cause the clutch member 55 to engage the opposed clutch member 57, the shaft 47 is operatively connected with the motor so as to cause the drums '43 to wind up the cables 41 and 44. The drum 17 of the dumping car cable 16 is on the shaft 52 and the lever 56 also controls a movable clutch member 58 adapted to en gage a clutch member 59 connected with the drumg17. When the lever is moved to connect clutch members 57 and 59 the drum 17 is rotated s0 as to wind the cable to move the dumping car. rfhe dumping car is moved back and forth by running the motorbackward and forward, the motor being controlled by the ordinary controller 60. The motor 50 also drives the elevating power truck 3. As herein shown, the shaft 52 is provided with a sprocket wheel 6l loosely mounted thereon. rlhis sprocket wheel is provided with a clutchvmember 62, a movable clutch niember 63 is slidably mounted on the shaft 52 and is controlled by a lever 64 (see F ig. 9). llVhen the lever 64 is moved to bring the clutch members 63 and 62 into engagement, the sprocket wheel 61 will be rotated. A belt 65 is connected with the sprocket wheel 61 and engages a sprocket wheel 66 on the axle 67 of the elevating power truck. At

the opposite end of the axle 67 is another sprocket wheel 68 with which is connected a belt 69 which engages a sprocket wheel 70 on the other axle 71 of the truck. It will .therefore be seen that the elevating power truck can be run along the trackas desired, said truck acting as a motor car to pull the other cars and the power shovel along with it. In view of the fact that the rooms may not be provided with trolley wires, I provide the lower elevating truck with a drum 72 upon which is mounted an electric cable supplying current to the motor 50 when said motor is an electrical motor. The end of this cable can be attached to the trolley wire in the main entry and will be unwound as the elevating power truckv passes into the room and will be wound up as the elevating power'truck approaches the main trolley. A drum 72 is operated from the axle 71. This axle is provided with a gear 73 adapted to engage a sliding gear 74, sliding on the intermediate shaft 75, said slidingr gear being controlled by the levers 76 and 77, the lever 77 being provided with a suitable handle 78 in convenient position for the operator. The shaft 75 'and the drum 72 are operatively connected together by the belt 79 working on the sprocket wheels connected respectively with said shaft and'said drum. ltlhen the power shovel is on the truck as shown in F ig. l, it is clamped to the rail l by means of the clamp la. `When the power shovel has disposed of the material in front of it that has been mined down, it is removed from its truck and placed at one side of the elevating power truck, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When in this position the platform 4a is held down by the holding pieces lb (see Figs. 2 and 3) which have the projections 4c extending over the edge of the platform, the holding pieces being held by the adjustable jacks 4d. The front end of the platform la is provided with the holding projections 4e.

The jacks are arranged so as not to interfere with the beam 6 of the scoop. The coal or other material is then scooped up by the scoop and discharged into the dumping car ll, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. rlhe power shovel can be moved to any desired position and the material in the scoop can be discharged into the dumping car, the only limit being the length of thelbeam 6. This beam 55 is moved back and forth and the distance the scoop can be moved depends upon its length. n

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: i 60 A series of cars are run in upon the track in the room. The elevating power truck may be used as a locomotive for hauling the cars in on the track and the power shovel may be pushed ahead of the elevating power 65 truck. Whenwthe cars are in position, the

parts l2 of the track on top of the cars may be placed in position on the cars. The cable of thedumping car is then placed in position and the power shovel fastened to the truck and the truck clamped to the track. The shovel is then operated to scoop up the coal or other material and discharge it into the dump car 1l. During this operation the platform of the elevating power truck and the dump car thereon are lowered so as to facilitate the discharge of the coal into the dump car. l/Vhen the dump car is filled, the platform upon which it is supported tis -raised to the position shown in Fig. l and the cable 16 is then operated to move the 80 dump car over one of the cars 2; the contents thereof is then dumped into said car and the operation repeated until the cars are filled. When the power shovel has disposed of, all the coal within reach, it is removed from its truck and placed in a position at one side of the track and the operat1on above described repeated. v

l claim:

1. An apparatus for handling material in mines comprising a plurality of cars for carrylng material, located one behind the other a trackl upon which said cars are mounted, a second track extending along the top of said cars, the two tracks being substantially parallel, a dumping car adapted to be moved along said second track and discharged into said cars, said track mounted upon said cars and supported thereby so that a plurality of-cars may be loaded with- ,109 out changing their position and means for loading said dumping car.

2. A n apparatus for handling material comprising a truck, a dumping car carried by said truck, a series of carrying cars associated with said truck, a track running .above said carrying' cars and substantially parallel with the line of travel of said carrying cars and means for moving the dumping car from said truck and moving it along said track to any of said carrying cars.

3. An apparatus for handling material comprising a truck, a movable platform on said truck, means for raising and lowering said platform, a dumping car on said platform, a series of carrying vcars associated with said truck, said carrying cars and truck carried by the same supporting device, a track extending along the top of said carryingy cars and means for moving the dump- 12o ingcaralong said track when said platform is in a predetermined position.

4; An apparatus for handling material comprising a series of carrying cars, a track extending along the top thereof, a dumping 1125 car adapted to be moved alongsaid track so that its contents may be discharged into any of said carryingcars, aJnoVable support associated with said carrying cars upon which said dumping car is received, means lao for lowering said support below said track when it is desired to load the dumping car and means for lifting said support to a position substantially on a level with said track when it is desired to run the dumping car along said track.

5. An apparatus for handling material comprising a truck, a power device carried by said truck, a movable platform carried by said truck, a dumping car mounted on said platform, a series of carrying cars at one end of said truck, a track extendingalong the top of said carrying cars and along which said dumping car may be moved and connecting devices on said truck for connecting the power device with said platform and with said dumping car.-

6. An apparatus for handling material comprising a truck, driving wheels therefor, a power device carried by said truck, a movable platform carried by said truck, a dumping car mounted on said platform, a series of carrying cars at one end of said truck, a track extending along the*` top of said carrying cars and along which said dumping car may be moved and connecting devices on said truck for connecting the power device with said platform and with said dumping car and driving wheels for said truck.

7 An apparatus for handling material comprising a series of carrying cars, track sections mounted upon each of said cars, the ends of which abut to form a continuous track when the cars are together, a movable platform associated with said cars and having a track section adapted to. be brought into alinement with the track sections on the cars, a dumping car on said platform, a loading device for loading said dumping car when on said platform, means for lowering the platform and dumping car to a position where the loading device may load material into the dumping car, means for raising said platform and car after it is loaded so that the track sections thereon are in alinement with the track sections on the carrying cars, and' means for moving the dumping car along the top of said carrying cars.

8. An apparatus for handling material comprising a series of carrying cars, a track extending along the top thereof, a power truck associated with said carrying cars and provided with a power device, a movable platform on said power truck provided with atrack section adapted to be brought into alinement with the track on the carrying cars, a dumping car adapted to be supported. upon said platform, a lifting and lowering device for said platform operated by the power device on the truck by means of which the dumping car maybe moved to and from its loading position.

9. An apparatus for handling material -truck associated with said carrying cars and provided with a power device, a movable platform on said power truck provided with a track section adapted to be brought into alinement with the track on the carrying cars, a dumping car adapted to be supported upon said platform, a lifting and lowering device for said platform operated by the power device on the truck by means of which the dumping car may be moved to and from its loading position, means for loading said dumping car when in its loading position and a connecting device for connecting said dumping car with said power device when the section of track on the platform is in alinement with the track on the carrying cars, so that the dumping car may be moved along said track.

10. An apparatus for handling material comprising a plurality of carrying cars, a power shovel for loading said cars and means supported by said cars and intermediate the power shovel and the cars and in the same lvertical plane as said cars for discharging the material from the power shovel into any of said cars without varying the position of said cars with relation to the power shovel.

11. A n apparatus for handli'ngroal inV and in the same vertical plane as said cars' for transferring the coal from the lifting device to any of said carrying cars without moving them with relation to the coal lifting device.

l2. An `apparatus for handling coal comprising a series of carrying cars adapted to be connected together, a` track extending along the top of said cars, a power truck' associated with said cars, a platform mounted thereon, a section of track on said platform, a dumping car adapted to-be carried by said platform, a raising and lowering mechanism connecting the platform with the truck so that the dumping car may be lowered to load it, a fexible cable connected with each end of said dumping car and a winding device on the truck adapted when, operated to move said dumping car along the top of said carrying cars.

13. An apparatus for handling material in mines comprising a plurality of carrying cars arranged upon a track, one back of the other, track sections removably connected with each of said cars, said track sections being in alinement so as to form a track along the top of the cars, a movable platform at the end of one of said .cars and having a track section, a dumping. car mounted thereon, means for moving 'said platform downwardly so'as to lower the dumping car to its loading position and means for moving said platform upward after the dumping car is loaded to move the section of track thereon in alinement with the sections of track on the carrying cars.

14. An apparatus for handling material in mines comprising a series of carrying cars located one behind the other upon a track, a lifting device for lifting material from the floor of the mine and means supported upon the same trackas saidcars for conveying said material from the lifting device to said several carrying cars so that all the cars may be loaded without changing their position.

15. A device for handling material comprising a series of cars, a removable track located above said cars ,and supported thereon, a removable sheav located on one end car, a power mechanism at the other end of the of cars, a cable actuated by the power mechanism, and passing around said sheave, a dump car connected with said ca-` ble and adapted to move along said track when the cable is moved, means for dumping material from the dump car into said' cars below the removable track.

16. An apparatus for handling material in mines, comprising a plurality of cars for carrying the material, a track upon which said cars are supported, a second track removably connected with said cars and eX-l tending along the top thereof, a dumping car adapted to be moved along said second vtrack and discharged into said cars, the 

